Callistemon Plant Named &#39;CNU06&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of Callistemon plant named ‘CNU06’ which is characterized by the combination of a compact growth habit, cylindrical inflorescence comprised of an abundance of dark pink flowers, and the stability of all characteristics from generation to generation.

Latin name of the genus and species: The Latin name of the genus and species of the novel variety disclosed herein is Callistemon citrinus.

Variety denomination: The inventive variety of Callistemon disclosed herein has been given the variety denomination ‘CNU06’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Parentage: ‘CNU06’ is the result of a controlled cross-pollination breeding program carried out by the inventor at a commercial plant breeding facility in Cobbitty, New South Wales, Australia in October of 2014. The inventor performed a controlled cross-pollination of the seed parent, Callistemon ‘Hot Pink’ (South African Plant Breeder's Rights grant number ZA 20043189) with Callistemon ‘Mauve Mist’ (unpatented), the pollen parent. The resulting seedlings were grown for two years to evaluate for new and distinct characteristics. In October of 2016, the inventor selected the new Callistemon plant for its compact growth habit and dark pink flowers. This new and distinctive cultivar was given the name ‘CNU06’

Asexual Reproduction: Asexual reproduction of ‘CNU06’, by way of stem cuttings, was first initiated in 2016 in Cobbitty, New South Wales, Australia. Through greater than four subsequent generations of asexual propagation, the unique features of this cultivar have proven to be stable and true to type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘CNU06’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions and the phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, day length, and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype. The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘CNU06’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘CNU06’ as a new and distinct Callistemon cultivar:

-   -   1. Callistemon ‘CNU06’ exhibits a compact growth habit; and     -   2. Callistemon ‘CNU06’ exhibits cylindrical inflorescences with         an abundance of dark pink flowers; and     -   3. Callistemon ‘CNU06’ exhibits flowers with dark pink exserted         stamens.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color photographs of this type, an exemplary plant of ‘CNU06’. This plant is approximately 36 months old.

FIG. 2 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color photographs of this type, the typical inflorescence of ‘CNU06’.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following observations and measurements were made in May of 2022 and describe a 6-year-old ‘CNU06’ plant grown in the ground in Clarendon, New South Wales, Australia. The plant was allowed to grow with full sun exposure and maintained with sporadic overhead irrigation during prolonged drought conditions and slow-release granular fertilizer applications. The plant received a light prune, biannually. No pest or disease control measures were utilized in production.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that certain characteristics will vary with older or, conversely, with younger plants. ‘CNU06’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. Where dimensions, sizes, colors and other characteristics are given, it is to be understood that such characteristics are approximations or averages set forth as accurately as practicable. The phenotype of the variety may differ from the descriptions set forth herein with variations in environmental, climactic and cultural conditions. Color notations are based on The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, The Royal Horticultural Society, London, 1986 (third edition).

A botanical description of ‘CNU06’, comparisons with the parents, comparisons with sibling cultivars, and a comparison with the most similar variety of common knowledge are provided below.

-   General plant description:     -   -   Growth habit—Evergreen shrub with a compact, globular growth             habit.         -   Plant profile.—Rotund.         -   Height.—150 cm from the soil level to the top of the foliar             plane.         -   Plant spread.—130 cm.         -   Growth rate.—Moderately fast.         -   Plant vigor—Moderately vigorous.         -   Propagation type.—Stem cuttings.         -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 120 days to             produce a rooted cutting at approximately 25 degrees             Celsius.         -   Time to produce a finished plant.—32 weeks to produce a             fully rotted 15 cm container.         -   Disease resistance.—Neither resistance nor susceptibility to             typical Callistemon pests and diseases has been observed.         -   Environmental tolerances.—Adapt to, at least, USDA Zones 9             through 11; moderate tolerance to rain; moderate to high             tolerance to wind; drought tolerant once established. -   Root system:     -   -   General.—Moderately dense and freely branched rooting; roots             are moderately fibrous.         -   Distribution in the soil profile.—Shallow to moderately             deep. -   Stem:     -   -   General branching habit.—A single main stem, freely             branching from the base, with an abundance of lateral             branches.         -   Quantity of main stems per plant.—1.         -   Diameter of the main stem.—10.0 cm at soil level.         -   Abundance of lateral branches.—Abundant.         -   Length of lateral branches.—Approximately 86 cm.         -   Diameter of lateral branches.—Approximately 1.0 cm.         -   Internode length.—Approximately 0.4 cm.         -   Attitude of lateral branches.—Outward to upright.         -   Aspect.—Rounded.         -   Texture, juvenile.—Tomentose.         -   Texture, mature and oldest wood.—Glabrous and becoming             progressively fissured and furrowed with age, followed by             exfoliation of the outer bark in small segments, revealing             yet more fissured and furrowed bark beneath.         -   Luster—Slightly glossy to matte.         -   Strength.—Strong.         -   Color, juvenile lateral branches.—Greyed-red, nearest to in             between RHS 181A and 181B, and becoming progressively             suffused with greyed-orange, nearest to RHS 172A, with age.         -   Color, mature lateral branches.—Greyed-orange; nearest to in             between 166B and 166C.         -   Color, main stem.—Exfoliating bark is brown, nearest to a             combination of RHS 200A, 200B, and 200D; exposed wood below             the exfoliating bark is greyed-orange, nearest to a             combination of RHD 164A, 164B, and 164C. -   Foliage:     -   -   Arrangement.—Whorled.         -   Division.—Simple.         -   Attachment.—Petiolate.         -   Attitude.—Upward and outward.         -   Lamina.—Shape — Nearest to in between lanceolate and             oblanceolate. Aspect — Flat to slightly carinate; margins             occasionally revolute. Dimensions — 6.7 cm long and 0.9 cm             wide. Apex — Narrowly acute. Base — Cuneate. Margin —             Entire, ciliate; not undulated. Texture of the juvenile             foliage, adaxial surface — Tomentose. Texture of the             juvenile foliage, abaxial surface — Tomentose. Texture of             the mature foliage, adaxial surface — Coriaceous; glabrous.             Texture of the mature foliage, abaxial surface — Coriaceous;             glabrous. Luster of the juvenile foliage, adaxial surface —             Matte. Luster of the juvenile foliage, adaxial surface —             Matte. Texture of the mature foliage, abaxial surface —             Moderately glossy. Texture of the mature foliage, abaxial             surface — Matte to slightly glossy. Color — Juvenile             foliage, adaxial surface — Yellow-green, nearest to in             between RHS 152D and 153D, and very heavily suffused with a             mixture of greyed-orange and greyed-red, RHS 168C and 179B.             In some instances, the greyed-orange coloration is more             prevalent and in other instances the greyed-red coloration             is most prevalent. Suffusion diminishes with age. Juvenile             foliage, abaxial surface — Yellow-green, nearest to RHS             151B, and heavily suffused with a mixture of greyed-orange             and greyed-red, RHS 168C and 179B. In some instances, the             greyed-orange coloration is more prevalent and in other             instances the greyed-red coloration is most prevalent.             Suffusion diminishes with age. Mature foliage, adaxial             surface — Green, nearest to RHS 139B. Mature foliage,             abaxial surface — Green, nearest to RHS 139C. Venation —             Pattern — Pinnate. Color, adaxial surface — Same as the             surrounding foliage; green, nearest to RHS 139B. Color,             adaxial surface — Same as the surrounding foliage;             yellow-green, nearest to RHS 139C.         -   Petiole.—Length —0 0.425 cm. Diameter — 0.22 cm at the base.             Strength — Strong. Texture, juvenile — Tomentose. Texture,             mature — Smooth; glabrous. Luster — Slightly glossy. Color,             adaxial and abaxial surfaces — Juvenile petioles are colored             greyed-red, nearest to RHS 181A. Mature petioles are             yellow-green, nearest to RHS 152D, and lightly suffused with             greyed-orange, nearest to RHS 175B.         -   Stipules.—None observed. -   Inflorescence:     -   -   Habit.—Terminal leafy spikes, borne directly on the lateral             branches.         -   Natural flowering season.—Heaviest bloom period is spring,             with sporadic flowering through summer and a second larger             flush of blooms in autumn, in Zone 9 of the United States.         -   Time to flower or response time.—Approximately 6 months.         -   Dimensions.—Largest inflorescence observed is 9.8 cm long             and 6.6 cm in diameter.         -   Quantity of flowers per inflorescence.—27, on the largest             observed inflorescence.         -   Peduncles.—None. -   Flower buds:     -   -   Shape.—Broad oblong to obovoid.         -   Length.—8.9 mm.         -   Diameter.—4.0 mm.         -   Texture.—Coriaceous; proximal end at the calyx tube is             tomentose and distal end at the flower petals is glabrous.         -   Luster.—Slightly glossy.         -   Color.—Yellow-green, nearest to in between RHS 144A and             144B; immature sepal lobes are suffused with greyed-purple,             nearest to RHS 185B. -   Flower:     -   -   Shape, type.—Rotate, with a single whorl of petals.         -   Attachment.—Sessile.         -   Flowering habit.—Freely flowering.         -   Attitude.—Upright to outward.         -   Flower longevity on plant.—Approximately 7 to 10 days.         -   Persistent or self-cleaning.—Self-cleaning.         -   Fragrance.—Non-fragrant.         -   Diameter.—Diameter of the corolla is 9.1 mm; the width             across the exserted stamens at their distal end is 29.8 mm.         -   Depth.—Depth of the corolla is 10 mm, excluding the exserted             stamens; the depth including the stamens is 32.7 mm.         -   Pedicels.—None; flowers are sessile.         -   Calyx.—Shape — Campanulate with sepal lobes adpressed to the             corolla at anthesis. Length — 6.2 mm, including the sepal             lobes. Diameter — 5.0 mm, distally, at the sepal lobes.             Color of the calyx tube — Yellow-green, nearest to a mixture             of RHS 144C and 145A. Sepal lobes — Quantity — 5. Shape —             Deltoid. Dimensions — 1.2 mm long and 2.4 mm wide at the             base. Apex — Obtuse. Base — Fused to the calyx tube. Margin             — Entire. Texture — Tomentose. Luster — Matte. Color —             Yellow-green, nearest to a mixture of RHS 144C and 145A, and             heavily suffused with greyed-purple, nearest to RHS 185B.         -   Petals.—Quantity — 5. Arrangement — Rotate. Length — 4.0 mm.             Width — 3.0 mm. Shape — Near orbicular. Apex — Obtuse. Base             — Truncate. Margin — Entire; light undulation. Texture,             inner surface — Glabrous; coriaceous. Texture, outer surface             — Glabrous; coriaceous. Petal color — When opening, inner             surface — Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 150D. When opening,             outer surface — Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 151D. Fully             opened, inner surface — Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 150D.             Fully opened, lower surface — Yellow-green, nearest to RHS             151D. Petal venation color — No venation is visible. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Androecium.—Stamens — Quantity — As many as 48 observed.             Anthers —0 Attachment — Dorsifixed. Shape — Oblong.             Dimensions — 1.0 mm long and 0.5 mm wide. Color —             Greyed-yellow, nearest to a combination of RHS 160B and             161B, with pollen removed. Filaments — Length — 23.5 mm, on             average. Diameter — 0.5 mm. Color — Red-purple, RHS 61 B,             proximally, and fading slightly lighter towards the distal             portion of the filament, nearest to RHS 61C. Amount of             Pollen — Moderately abundant. Pollen color — Yellow, nearest             to RHS 11 B.         -   Gynoecium.—Pistil — Quantity — One. Length — 19.5 mm. Style             — Length — 18.25 mm, on average. Diameter — 2.0 mm at the             ovary. Color — Red-purple, RHS 61B, proximally, and fading             slightly lighter towards the distal portion of the filament,             nearest to RHS 61C. Stigma — Shape — Near globular. Length —             1.25 mm. Diameter — 1.0 cm. Color — Greyed-orange, RHS 163D.             Ovary position — Inferior. -   Seed and fruit: Seeds not observed.

COMPARISONS WITH THE PARENT PLANTS

Plants of the new cultivar ‘CNU06’ differ from its seed parent, Callistemon ‘Hot Pink’ (South African Plant Breeder's Rights grant number ZA 20043189), by the characteristics described in Table 1.

TABLE 1 Characteristic ‘CNU06’ ‘Hot Pink’ Plant size. Smaller than ‘Hot Pink’. Larger than ‘CNU06’. General coloration Dark pink. Red-purple. of the stamens.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘CNU06’ may be distinguished from its pollen parent, Callistemon ‘Mauve Mist’ (not patented), by the characteristics described in Table 2.

TABLE 2 Characteristic ‘CNU06’ ‘Mauve Mist’ Plant size. Smaller than ‘Mauve Mist’. Larger than ‘CNU06’. General coloration Dark Pink. Purple. of the stamens.

COMPARISON WITH THE MOST SIMILAR VARIETIES OF COMMON KNOWLEDGE

Plants of the new cultivar ‘CNU06’ may be distinguished from the most similar known commercial comparator, Callistemon ‘All Aglow’ (unpatented), by the characteristics described in Table 3.

TABLE 3 Characteristic ‘CNU06’ ‘All Aglow’ Plant height. Shorter than ‘All Aglow’. Taller than ‘CNU06’

Plants of the new cultivar ‘CNU06’ may be distinguished from its sibling, Callistemon citrinus ‘CNU01’ (co-pending U.S. Patent application Ser. No. 17/803,225), by the characteristics described in Table 4.

TABLE 4 Characteristic ‘CNU06’ ‘CNU01’ Growth habit. Compact; globular. Compact; globular to near columnar. Plant height. Shorter than ‘CNU01’. Taller than ‘CNU06’ General coloration Dark Pink. White. of the stamens.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘CNU06’ may be distinguished from its sibling, Callistemon citrinus ‘CNUO7’ (co-pending U.S. Patent application Ser. No. 17/803,227), by the characteristics described in Table 5.

TABLE 5 Characteristic ‘CNU06 ’‘CNU07’ Growth habit. Compact; globular. Upright; narrowly columnar. Plant height. Shorter than ‘CNU07’. Taller than ‘CNU06’ General coloration Dark Pink. White. of the stamens.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘CNU06’ may be distinguished from its sibling, Callistemon citrinus ‘CNU15’ (co-pending U.S. Patent application Ser. No. 17/803,224), by the characteristics described in Table 6.

TABLE 6 Characteristic ‘CNU06’ ‘CNU15’ Plant size. Larger than ‘CNU15’. Smaller than ‘CNU06’ Foliage size. Larger than ‘CNU15’. Smaller than ‘CNU06’ Inflorescence size. Larger than ‘CNU15’. Smaller than ‘CNU06’ General coloration Dark Pink. Light Pink. of the stamens.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘CNU06’ may be distinguished from its sibling, Callistemon citrinus ‘CNU19’ (co-pending U.S. Patent application Ser. No. 17/803,223), by the characteristics described in Table 7.

TABLE 7 Characteristic ‘CNU06’ ‘CNU19’ Plant size. Larger than ‘CNU19’. Smaller than ‘CNU06’ Foliage size. Larger than ‘CNU19’. Smaller than ‘CNU06’ General coloration Slightly darker Slightly lighter of the stamens. shade of pink. shade of pink. 

That which is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Callistemon plant named ‘CNU06’, substantially as described and illustrated herein. 